Police Laws on Dismissing Unmarried Pregnant Officers Expunged – AIG

Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Aishatu Baju has announced that police regulations mandating the dismissal of unmarried female officers who become pregnant while in active service have been officially removed.

AIG Baju revealed this development while addressing questions related to gender equality and inclusivity within the Nigeria Police Force. She highlighted that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had introduced the Nigeria Police Gender Policy last year, emphasizing the importance of eradicating any form of gender discrimination within the force.

“The IGP has just last year launched the Nigeria Police Gender Policy to ensure the complete eradication of any form of gender discrimination,” Baju explained. “The Nigeria Police has come of age, and the IGP is intentional about inclusivity and ensuring that the force is an equal opportunity institution.”

When directly asked if the police still dismissed unmarried female officers who became pregnant, AIG Baju confirmed: “Yes, the regulation has been expunged.”

This move follows growing concerns about the policy, which had sparked public outcry, particularly after the dismissal of a female police officer, Olajide, in 2021 for becoming pregnant while unmarried. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had filed a case in the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the legality of Section 127 of the police regulations, which previously allowed such dismissals. However, the court ruled that the officers were aware of the regulation before joining the police force, and dismissed the suit for lack of merit.

The removal of this policy marks a significant step towards gender equality and inclusivity in the Nigeria Police Force.